Strategic Options to Expand Local Market Access to MakaPads

Abstract

This project sought to explore options for Technology for Tomorrow, Ltd. to expand access of their sanitary napkins product, MakaPads, to local women in Uganda. At present, approximately 95% of Technology for Tomorrow, Ltd.’s MakaPad supply goes to the United Nations, where it is then redistributed for use in refugee camps, primarily in east African countries. This both introduces significant risks for the company and restricts the supply of MakaPads available to be sold locally in Uganda, which was one of the original goals of the product. The master’s practicum team developed a list of possible several strategic options for the company and prioritized these options according to their potential cost and impact in consultation with the Technology for Tomorrow, Ltd. leadership, and began developing an implementation plan for the most promising of these strategies. The “first tier” options were identified as the most promising or desirable and are outlined in the highest level of detail, as well as second­tier options which are more or less desirable depending on Technology for Tomorrow’s ability to access capital or partner with third parties. The practicum team concludes by discussing next steps needed for Technology for Tomorrow, Ltd. with a holistic review of capabilities needed to implement solutions, potential support from the University of Michigan and other outside sources, as well as remaining issues and potential challenges the company faces.